WACA crisis to drag on

WACA crisis to drag on - The West Australian

Marcus North announces he is stepping down as WA and Scorchers skipper. Pic: Steve Ferrier/WA News

The WA cricket crisis is set to drag on for another week after the WACA board decided to leave decisions on discipline to the directors who will be appointed tomorrow night.

WACA chief executive Christina Matthews yesterday received the report detailing the off-field indiscretions which marred the team's Twenty20 Champions League in South Africa and resulted in star batsman Shaun Marsh and all-rounder Mitch Marsh being dropped for the final game.

But on a day when Marcus North quit as skipper and Shaun Marsh was axed - on form - for this week's Sheffield Shield game against Victoria at the MCG, the board deferred a decision on what penalties players would face until after tomorrow night's annual general meeting.

The WACA board will be cut from 14 to 10 at the meeting and will then decide how to deal with players who embarked on a boozy night to celebrate Mitch Marsh's 21st birthday while on tour.

"It's not fair to the new board to give them a fait accompli. They've got to have a look at it," WACA chairman David Williams said.

"We will reach our conclusions and I think what we're talking about is not a knee-jerk reaction.

"It's a catalyst to get the right structure in place."

Matthews and North denied the change of captaincy was linked to South African shenanigans which have plunged the WACA into crisis.

North, who played 21 Tests and scored five centuries for Australia, said the team deserved to have a captain who was the first picked.

"The reality is, going to Melbourne this week, if I miss out I probably don't deserve to play the next game," North said.

"I got a pair against Victoria at the WACA Ground. It's been building before that and was in the front of my mind."

Matthews refused to disclose details about the South African incident and said they may never be made public. She denied Shaun Marsh had been hung out to dry.

"The decision on him not playing has got nothing to do with what happened in South Africa," she said.

Test stalwart Mike Hussey will captain the team. The West Australian understands that Adam Voges will be appointed skipper for the rest of the season, which will include the Ryobi Cup one-dayers. Former Australian opener Simon Katich will be offered the captaincy of the Perth Scorchers.

Paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile and opener Liam Davis will play for Australia A from Friday, so fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and 20-year-old batsman Sam Whiteman were added to the shield team. Whiteman is yet to play for WA but Williams said he deserved a chance after his 96 for Rockingham-Mandurah on Saturday.

Williams insisted the team had been picked on form.

"Our three to six bats in the last game were Shaun, Vogey, Northy and Mitch Marsh," he said.

"You've got to bring Mike Hussey in. Where do you fit Mike Hussey between three and six?

"It's as simple as that."

Marsh, who batted No.3 in the Australian Test team last summer and made a glorious debut Test century just over a year ago, has scored 30, 14, three and one in the State's two shield matches this season.

He has scored more than North, who admitted he was lucky to retain his place after 23 runs in four innings, including a pair of ducks in the most recent game.

North said not playing in a shield or one-day final during his time as captain had been frustrating and he had felt the burden of trying to improve the team.

But he denied the team's discipline issues were as bad as had been suggested.

Williams also defended the culture and wants to speak to Australian chairman of selectors John Inverarity after his recent criticism.